How Associations Can Plan for the Future Using the Curiosity Compass


ENGAGING ASSOCIATIONS
NSB speaker Fenton Jagdeo at Engaging Associations on Innovation

NSB speaker Fenton Jagdeo at Engaging Associations on Innovation

At the Engaging Associations Forum, one theme stood out: leading the shift from uncertainty to readiness.

As your association conference planning season approaches, you’re focused on creating experiences that spark meaningful conversations and connections for your member partners. Speakers like Fenton Jagdeo help you achieve this, challenging conventional thinking and guiding organizations toward the strategic alignment to move forward with confidence and resilience.  Below you’ll see some highlights of How Associations Can Plan for the Future Using the Curiosity Compass.

 

🗝️  Here’s sample takeaways from Fenton Jagdeo’s keynote & workshop at the Engaging Associations Forum event:

  1. Navigate and question Norms
     
  2. Explore beyond your own industry
     
  3. Solve Systematically by breaking down your processes into step by step to see where improvements can be made
     
  4. Widen your lens to the broader impact of your work

 ⬇️SEE more detail on the Curiosity Compass NEWS format & sample insights below⬇️

Rave reviews from Fenton’s Associations session:

Event organizers said “your session was fantastic – my neck is still sore from enthusiastically nodding with every insightful point you made. It was exactly what an opening keynote should be.“

Curiosity Compass in Action:

👉 (N)avigate Norms: Challenge assumptions

When a massive infrastructure deal dominates headlines, don’t assume it’s “just business.” Ask what underlying norms are being challenged.

In the case of Union Pacific, the century old norm of regional rail monopolies is being upended. What other industries could benefit from coast to coast integration? Conversely, are there norms around fairness and competition that need defending? By questioning orthodoxies, you reveal opportunities and threats that others overlook.

👉 (E)xplore Beyond: Cross domain inspiration

Unexpected search trends encourage you to look beyond your sector.

For instance, the viral “Is it too late to start…?” meme reflects anxiety about starting something new. In your organization, that might translate into training programs for mid career employees or workshops on Radical Curiosity (hint hint, nudge nudge).

Looking at other domains sparks ideas you wouldn’t find by examining only your own industry, and helps your strategy stay competitive as your sourcing ideas far from your competitor’s vantage point.

👉 (S)olve Systematically: Turn signals into operations

Foresight is useless if it stays in the strategy deck (most of strategy is). Once you’ve identified a trend, you need to review and adapt your processes.

This could mean rethinking your supply chain dependencies, updating risk analyses for clients, or developing new content that addresses emerging concerns.

Solve systematically by breaking down each process and implementing improvements.

👉 (W)iden the Lens: Consider all stakeholders

Big deals trigger strong reactions because they affect more than just shareholders.

The Union Pacific merger is raising questions about job losses and service quality; BlackRock’s port acquisitions is sparking debates about national sovereignty and the role of the private sector.

When you widen your lens, you see how an innovation or strategy will ripple through employees, customers, suppliers and communities. Having a holistic view helps design solutions that create shared value rather than unintended harm.

 

MORE ON:

The Curiosity Compass, a framework designed to explore innovation at all levels of the organization to challenge systems, explore possibilities, and fuel innovation across.


Fenton teaches leaders how to operationalize curiosity as a strategy for innovation and transformation. Through his propriety Curiosity Compass framework, he shows executives how small, intentional questions and experiments can unlock new possibilities, helping organizations move forward even when the future feels uncertain.

His approach emphasizes that courageous leadership isn’t always about big leaps, but rather, it’s about building momentum through deliberate steps that compound into lasting and measurable impact.

Ask us for Fenton’s toolkit of innovation resources using the Curiosity Compass and Resources from Fenton’s Curiosity Compass & Scenario Planning Workshop via the Request form below!
 

ON TAKING SMALL STEPS AND STRATEGIC ACTIONS:

First introduced in the military to prepare for complex situations, the concept of VUCA — volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity — has become a defining reality of today’s world. In an era defined by VUCA, the difference between organizations that thrive and those that merely survive often comes down to one critical factor: confident and courageous leadership.

“In times of volatility, the most courageous leaders don’t wait for perfect clarity. They create it, step by step. Operationalizing Curiosity is what allows them to question current realities, and take small, deliberate actions—testing, learning, and adjusting along the way—to drive growth… especially when growth feels expensive. Each step builds confidence and momentum, turning uncertainty into opportunity, strategy into progress, and growth into a true return.“
–Fenton Jagdeo Jr.
 
____
 

STAY CONNECTED WITH US

Stay connected for upcoming events and webinars featuring speakers like Fenton! National Speakers Bureau simplifies speaker selection by connecting you with expert thought leaders who bring relevance, insight, and energy to your association conference programming.

Ready to find the right speaker for your next event? Feel free to reply directly to this email, reach out to your agent of record at NSB, or fill out your event details using our Event Request form.
Request more info